User interactive method for indicating a region of interest

Abstract

A method for defining a volume of interest (VOI) in a medical image is presented. A user interface is used to select a point on an initial linear border segment of a volume of interest. The user drops the point at a new position and a processor forms a new, non-linear border segment which includes the point. A 3D presentation of the volume of interest is created.

1. A method for defining a volume of interest (VOI) in a medical image, comprising:
 displaying a medical image representative of anatomical structure; 
 defining an initial VOI within said image by surrounding said initial VOI with linear border segments; 
 moving a point on a said linear border segment; 
 using the moved point on the linear border segment to replace at least one said linear border segment with curved line segments to create a new border segment and creating a virtual point at which the new border segment passes through another planar view of the medical image; 
 moving the virtual point in the other planar view of the medical image; and 
 using the moved point, the virtual point, and splines in parallel planes to redraw a 3D presentation of the VOI with a curved surface. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the point on the linear border segment through a user interface. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising presenting the point to be moved on said linear border segment, and identifying a final location of the moved point on the linear border segment said non-linear border segment being placed on said medical image based on said final location of said moved point on the linear border segment. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-linear border segment includes at least one of linear partial segments, and n-th order curved line segments, where n is at least two. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said includes replacing a plurality of said linear border segments with non-linear border segments. 
   
   
     6. A system for defining a volume of interest (VOI) in a medical image, comprising;
 a display configured to display a medical image representative of anatomical structure; 
 a processor configured to define an initial VOL within said image by surrounding said initial VOI with linear border segments; and 
 a user interface configured to accept user input to move a point on a said linear border segment; 
 said processor further configured to use the moved point on the linear border segment to replace at least one said linear border segment with curved line segments to create a new border segment and to display on said display a virtual point at which the new border segment passes through another planar view of the medical image; 
 said user interface further configured to accept user input to move the virtual point in the other planar view of the medical image; and 
 said system configured to use the moved point, the virtual point, and splines in parallel planes to redraw a 3D presentation of the VOI with a curved surface. 
 
   
   
     7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein said user interface includes at least one of a trackball, a mouse, and a keyboard. 
   
   
     8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein said processor is configured to present said point to be moved on the linear border segment and to place said new border segment on said medical image based on a final location of said moved point. 
   
   
     9. The system of  claim 6 , wherein said new border segment includes n-th order curved line segments, where n is at least two.